We all know Ireland enters 2011 facing huge economic difficulties and the probable return to large scale emigration will also have a significant impact on clubs and communities.
John Hynes, who is vice chairperson of the Galway County Board, believes now more than ever Galway GAA needs to believe in itself and be reminded about what can be achieved when positive people come together and put their minds together to make a positive contribution.
Speaking to Advertiser Sport yesterday, he said: “Galway GAA is aware of the positive impact it has on communities. It delivers tremendous satisfaction to all of us whether we are playing our games, or supporting our activities as volunteers. We need to focus on the values that bind us together, that make us unique, and that will retain and attract more players, members, volunteers and supporters.”
Strategic vision
With that in mind Galway GAA has initiated a process to develop a Strategic Vision and Action Plan (2011-2015 ). This plan will be a vision and a road map of what we need to work on, prioritise and achieve over the next five years and will map out ways that we can protect what is valuable to us.
The plan for Galway GAA will identify and prioritise the type of action that should be taken to ensure that the successes and achievements of the recent past are built on. It will be a strong statement of ambition and intent that will be informed by the experiences and needs of our members.
As part of his brief as vice chairman of the county board, John Hynes wants the members of Galway GAA to think about what kind of organisation they want or will have in five years time.
“We want our members to have an input into the type of GAA we hope to have in Galway in 2015. We are appealing to members to think about where the GAA in Galway is going and to express their views and opinions on what should be prioritised in the coming years.”
Some of the key areas that will addressed in the Plan for Galway GAA will include:
• Games development and scheduling.
• How to retain and attract more volunteers.
• Improving the welfare of players.
• Developing clubs and communities.
• Improving communications and marketing Galway GAA.
• Managing the impact of urbanisation and rural depopulation.
• Finance and fundraising.
•Youth policies and wellbeing of children.
• Inclusion, integration and diversity.
“We want to make sure that the views and hopes of all our members and volunteers will be the main influence in developing this plan,” says Hynes.
If anyone would like to be involved in the development of this plan or would like to make a submission on any of the key issues, send details to [email protected], or write to Strategic plan workgroup, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, Galway.
* Galway, the second largest county in Ireland with a population of 231,700, is represented by 85 clubs with 27,096 registered members. In 2010 Galway clubs fielded 1,003 teams catering for 18,772 players, 50 per cent of whom are players under-18 years.
The population of Galway city is 72,400 (30 per cent of the county’s population ) and this represents a significant challenge and opportunity to increase player and volunteer participation in our games.
